Quelque Chose - Unibroue

Jason

Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Presentation: 12 oz brown twist off bottle with a foiled top and best before date on the back label. States on the label to serve hot or on the rocks, I served it normal at around 50*F and then let it warm to room temperature for additional tasting.

Appearance: No carbonation or head at all, clarity is fine with a reddish burgundy hue. This is the way the beer is supposed to be … odd.

Smell: Estery alcohols, spicing of allspice and fruity of tart cherries.

Taste: You’d swear the spicing was close to a hot cider spice, fruitiness is tart and in you face but with a balance of sweetness as well. Creamy slick mouth feel with no carbonation at all. Alcohol is quite evident with a warming feeling in the back and esters up front. Finishes on the sweet side with a little beer character of grain.

Notes: I see this ale as either a dessert beer or as a great marinade for chicken. Sip it like wine as it is quite close to it or a still hard cider. It certainly pushes the envelope of what beer is and can be.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2002 15:20:12 | More by Jason

deadliest

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%

05-14-2013 00:36:19 | More by deadliest

tommyguz

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +12.1%

05-11-2013 00:30:10 | More by tommyguz

Kelp

New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

04-16-2013 09:50:38 | More by Kelp

Jonada

New Jersey

3.13/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

750ml bottle. Best before 12/31/2025. Served in a snifter.

Appearance: Reddish brown in color. Pours completely still with zero head or visible carbonation. If I didn't know better, I'd think it was a glass of iced tea.

Smell: Maraschino cherries, mint, menthol, dark fruit. Smells a bit like a cherry cough drop.

Taste: Medicinal cherry dominates the palate. Also getting some cinnamon and a slight breadiness.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a slick oily mouthfeel. Very slight twinge of carbonation but otherwise nearly flat.

Overall: Not a fan of this one. The lack of carbonation was a problem, but I can chalk that up to personal preference. The main issue I had was the medicinal artificial cherry notes that dominated both the smell and palate. It's not terrible, but I wouldn't get it again.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 04:31:39 | More by Jonada

Lare453

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +12.1%

03-22-2013 12:48:38 | More by Lare453

ngeunit1

California

4.11/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Dark brown-red with a touch of bubbles around the edges.

S - Sweet caramel and dark caramel malts, sour cherries, other dark fruits, vinegar, some Belgian yeast.

T - Sweet caramel and dark caramel malts, sour cherries, and other dark fruits, acidity, some Belgian yeast character.

M - Medium bodied with low carbonation. Smooth and a bit thick with a sweet and lightly sour finish.

D - Nice fruit beer. Could use a bit more carbonation, however the flavors are really nicely balanced.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 05:13:55 | More by ngeunit1

ToastySteve

4.75/5  rDev +25.3%

02-23-2013 18:33:45 | More by ToastySteve

LampertLand

British Columbia (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%

02-18-2013 01:20:45 | More by LampertLand

LambicKing

Virginia

3/5  rDev -20.8%

02-17-2013 23:21:34 | More by LambicKing

Azrael

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

02-12-2013 04:59:40 | More by Azrael

matjack85

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

02-02-2013 14:32:34 | More by matjack85

DmanGTR

New York

4.25/5  rDev +12.1%

01-31-2013 22:11:44 | More by DmanGTR

phishbone23

New York

3.25/5  rDev -14.2%

01-23-2013 18:31:54 | More by phishbone23

uturn

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%

01-17-2013 21:43:38 | More by uturn

MusicaleMike

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

First beer of 2013! Didn't read the label and was surprised when I popped the cork that there wasn't much of a *POP*. Poured the beer into a small glass and noticed there is very, very minimal carbonation, which at first I thought was a mistake. Brunt amber color with garnet hues. Again, zero bubbles sitting on top of this beer. I finally read the label and felt better that it was like this. Can't say it is very attractive for a beer, but won't knock it since that was intentional.

Smell is good! Sour cherries in the aroma, plus a small amount of vinegar, which helps add a layer of complexity. Reminded me of the Flemish Red from Monks Cafe. Deep and rich notes of cherry dominate though and it works for this beer.

Taste has notes of chocolate and cherry, and a little bit of acetic acid. Alcohol is very well hidden, and it drinks almost like a soda (of course without the carbonation).

Mouthfeel is of course on the "flat" side, but again, that is intentional so I can't say that wasn't called for. However, I think I would have given a higher rating for something with a little bubbly.

"Quelque Chose" certainly lives up to the name. I would say that it is a beer worth trying. Like the first time I ever tasted Lindeman's Framboise, this beer will make you think about what does it mean to have a beer? They call for this to be poured on the rocks, OR served warm. This is one interesting beer, with some good flavor and a beautiful aroma. My friends that I split the bottle with REALLY enjoyed it and wanted to find more of it...so that's a good sign!

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 21:05:01 | More by MusicaleMike

smithj4

New York

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

01-04-2013 01:59:38 | More by smithj4

mychalg9

Illinois

2/5  rDev -47.2%

12-22-2012 15:08:16 | More by mychalg9

stereosforgeeks

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

12-17-2012 16:04:33 | More by stereosforgeeks

dharmabum326

Maryland

1.85/5  rDev -51.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

My girlfriend picked this beer up because the label looked cool. As soon as I read the description I knew it wasn't a beer that I would usually enjoy, but I try to make an effort to be open minded. When I first opened the cold bottle I first thought was uh-oh because there was no pop whatsoever. I poured two glasses and there was no carbonation and only a few bubbles coming up. I thought the beer had to be bad, and upon initial tasting this was my girlfriends conclusion as well. While the beer has no carbonation it wasn't completely off. It was a clear brown color and smelled sweet like cherry candy. The taste was similar - very sweet, lots of cherry, and kind of like candy. There is definitely a syrupy feel and taste. I did not enjoy it. What followed was a discussion as to whether or not we could ethically pour the bottle down the drain. That's when I did a little research and discovered that the beer was not supposed to be heavily carbonated. Surprised, we decided to re-cork the bottle and save it for mulling, which never ended up happening. Overall, this reminds me more of a sweet wine than a beer. Hell, it reminds me more of cough syrup than beer. Not for me.
On a side note, I used a cup of this beer in some chile. The chile was great, but I couldn't taste any of the beer - at least it wasn't wasted.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 01:25:27 | More by dharmabum326

KJabo

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

11-23-2012 19:22:24 | More by KJabo

andthevolcano

Delaware

4/5  rDev +5.5%

11-07-2012 03:07:22 | More by andthevolcano

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

3.28/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle from 2010
Served on the rocks, pours a still reddish brown with a few stray bubbles coming out of the bottle. This smells a little like mulled cherry. There's a syrupy cherry sweetness in the aroma that is countered with spices like clove, cinnamon and nutmeg. The flavor follows the aroma to a tee. This is quite sweet and syrupy with a mulled cherry flavor to it. The spices provide minimal balance to the sweetness that is Quelque Chose. Medium to thick body with a sweet syrupy mouthfeel. Interesting "beer" but honestly a little too sweet for my tastes. Some bubbles would have really help in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 22:11:53 | More by johnnnniee

RickS95

Indiana

3.73/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

With fruit beers, I just never know what to expect, and this fits the bill. It's a brownish liquid, lightened by some red. It looks like dark, flavored tea. There is almost no head. A few bubbles early on, then nothing.

Very cherry in the nose with clear additions of cinnamon and clove. Smells like wassail or some other warm weather cider-type drink.

The taste isn't like most other beers. The cherries are obvious from beginning to end, and while the cinnamon and clove are supporting cast members, they make an appearance toward the end of the show. A little bit of alcohol in the finish. No discernable hop presence.

It's very sweet and slightly tart. No carbonation. Feels a bit heavy, wine-like. Subtle spices. Warming in the end with a grainy, medicinal feel.

One of the stranger 'beers' I've had. Not sure I'd call it a beer. Once you get past the strange flavor and feel, it kind of grows on you. Definitely a sipper. Middle of the road for Unibroue.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 03:20:29 | More by RickS95

mdfb79

New York

4/5  rDev +5.5%

10-26-2012 18:19:14 | More by mdfb79